Device and procedure for release of fragrance

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a device for release of a fragrance, comprising a vessel containing a liquid or solid base material and a radiation source, whereby the radiation source can act on the vessel so that the fragrance contained in the base material can be released, as well as a procedure for releasing the fragrance from the base material. According to the invention the radiation source for this procedure should be an electric filament.

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for the release of afragrance, comprising a vessel for storing a liquid or solid basematerial and a radiation source. The radiation source is directedtowards the vessel in a way, that the fragrance contained in the basematerial can be released. The invention comprises also a procedure torelease the fragrance from the base material.

[0002] Devices of this type are known where the radiation source is awax candle, a petroleum burner or similar devices. The use of suchradiation sources has the disadvantage, that its energy output can onlybe controlled in a limited way and its operation is comparativelycumbersome, because it requires open fire.

[0003] The invention is based on the idea to provide a device, accordingto the preamble of claim 1, which is easier to adjust and moreconvenient to use.

[0004] A device according to claim 1 implements this idea. According tothe invention the radiation source is an electric filament. A commercialdimmer can adjust the energy output. Switching on and off can be donerelatively easy by a switch, as usually done with electric devices.

[0005] An extension of the invention is provided by operating theelectric filament with a reflector. The reflector bundles the radiationemitted from the electric filament in one direction and thus increasesits efficiency toward that direction.

[0006] Preferably the reflector and the electric filament are enclosedin one housing. The housing facilitates mounting and protects reflectorand electric filament from physical damages.

[0007] In another model it is intended to put a filter between thevessel and the electric filament. Undesirable radiation components canthus be filtered out.

[0008] It is preferable to filter out thermal radiation by the filter.Thus the radiation would not provide heat supply to the vessel.

[0009] Furthermore it is intended to use an H₂O-Filter. This is thetraditional filter to eliminate thermal radiation components.

[0010] Further on it is intended that the filter can be modifiableregarding its optical properties. Depending on the spectrum, which isemitted by the electric filament, the spectrum of the radiationimpinging on the vessel can be varied by modifying the filter.

[0011] Preferably the optical properties of the filter are electricallyalterable. Using an electric switch a simple and reproducible adjustmentcan be obtained.

[0012] In another model it is intended, that the variable opticalproperty of the filter is particularly the wavelength, which is blockedby the filter. Thus individual wavelengths of the spectrum which impingeon the vessel can be specifically filtered out.

[0013] The problem mentioned in the beginning is resolved by theprocedure for the release of a fragrance according to claim 10.According to the invention it is intended, that the base material isexposed to radiation, which causes a chemical modification and thusreleases the fragrance. By modifying the radiation intensity and theradiation spectrum the amount of the released frangrance can be changed.

[0014] As an extension of the procedure it is intended, that the basematerial release different fragrances depending on the impingingradiation. Thus without changing the base material different frangrancescan be released. Equally it is possible to release different frangrancesin a time-dependent way.

[0015] The base material is preferably an aqueous solution. Aqueoussolutions are safe to handle and are innocuous as compared to e.g.alcoholic solutions.

[0016] In the following an implementation example of the invention isdescribed.

[0017] In FIG. 1 the principle of the device according to the inventionis shown.

[0018] A bowl 1 according FIG. 1 is supported by a Rack 2. Bowl 1 can bee.g. a glass bowl shaped as a spherical cap or the like. In principalall partially or fully open vessels can be used. In the depicted exampleRack 2 is a wire rack.

[0019] Rack 2 is connected with a Housing 3, in which the electricfilament 4 and the Reflector 5 are accommodated. The electric filament 4and the Reflector 5 are arranged in such manner, that the radiationgenerated by the electric filament 4 impinge primarily onto the bottomside of Bowl 1.

[0020] A liquid 6 is placed in Bowl 1. This can be e.g. a solution,emulsion or a mixture of several substances. Instead of Liquid 6 therecan be solid materials, for example granulate material. Because of theirradiation of the bottom side of Bowl 1 with the electric filament 4 incombination with Reflector 5, the Bowl 1 as well as the Liquid 6 isheated and the fragrance contained in Liquid 6 evaporates.

[0021] Alternatively or in addition to the use of the thermal radiationof the electric filament 4 and its absorption by the Liquid 6 resp. Bowl1 the wavelength of the radiation emitted by the electric filament 4 canbe tuned to the properties of the Liquid 6. This tuning would be done ina way as to trigger a chemical change of the Liquid 6, as for example adecomposition of a substance contained in it, caused by the impact ofthe radiation from the electric filament 4.

[0022] The chemically altered substance is released from Liquid 6, whileunaltered substances remain in the Liquid 6. By the action of theradiation emitted from the electric filament 4 on the Liquid 6 asubstance is thus released and distributed in the room where the deviceis located.

[0023]FIG. 2 shows an enhanced version of the device as compared toFIG. 1. Between the Housing 3 and Bowl 1 there is an additional Filter7. This can be for instance a traditional H₂O-Filter. This filters outthose radiation components, which contribute to heating the water.

[0024] Therefore the Liquid 6 in Bowl 1 is not heated and only thoseradiation components, which cause a chemical modification of the liquid,can pass. Thus e.g. a rapid evaporation of liquid components with adistinctly higher boiling point than room temperature can be avoided.

[0025] Additionally Filter 7 can be modified regarding its opticalproperties. For instance the Filter 7 could be alterable regarding itstransparency spectrum, by electrical switching devices, which are notdemonstrated here. Thus the amount of gas evaporating from Bowl 1 can becontrolled independently from the radiation intensity of the electricfilament 4.

[0026] If Liquid 6 contains substances, which are modified at differentradiation wavelengths and thereby produce different scents, this createsa device which can produce alterable scents.

[0027] Additionally Mirrors 8 can be arranged at the Bowl 1, whichgenerate a light effect in the environment from the electric filament 4in combination with Reflector 5. Alternatively parts of Bowl 1 can bemetallized.

1. Device for the release of fragrance comprising a vessel (1) containing a liquid or solid base material (6) and a radiation source, whereby the radiation source can act on the vessel (1) in such way, that the fragrance (6) contained in the base material (6) is released thus characterized, that the radiation source is an electric filament (4).
 2. Device according to claim 1, thus characterized, that the electric filament (4) can be operated in combination with a reflector (5).
 3. Device according to one of the claims 1 or 2, thus characterized, that the reflector (5) and the electric filament (4) are arranged together in one housing (3).
 4. Device according to one of the claims 1 to 3, thus characterized, that a filter (7) is placed between vessel (1) and the electric filament (4).
 5. Device according to one of the claims 1 to 4, thus characterized, that filter (7) filters out thermal radiation.
 6. Device according to one of the claims 1 to 5, thus characterized, that Filter (7) is an H₂O-filter.
 7. Device according to one of the claims 1 to 6, thus characterized, that Filter (7) can be modified regarding its optical properties.
 8. Device according to claim 7, thus characterized, that the optical properties of filter (7) can be electrically altered.
 9. Device according to one of the claims 7 or 8, thus characterized, that the electrically alterable property of Filter (7) is especially the wavelength, which is blocked by the Filter (7).
 10. Procedure for release of a fragrance from a base material, thus characterized, that the base material is exposed to a radiation, which causes a chemical change of the base material and the chemical change releases the fragrance.
 11. Procedure according to claim 10, thus characterized, that the base material releases different fragrances, depending on the applied radiation.
 12. Procedure according to one of the claims 10 or 11, thus characterized, that the base material is an aqueous solution. 